Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. House passed legislation today opposed by DuPont Co. and other firms that would give the government the authority to force companies to replace chemicals that terrorists could use in attacks with safer alternatives.

The measure, approved 230-193, would make permanent the homeland security secretary’s power to oversee security practices at chemical plants. The legislation also proposes that Congress approve $900 million from 2011 to 2013 to fund chemical-plant security.

Congress in 2006 passed a law giving this oversight to the homeland security secretary in response to post-Sept. 11 fears that terrorists could steal dangerous chemicals or target the plants themselves. Lawmakers made the secretary’s power temporary because they couldn’t reach a compromise on permanent standards.

Chemical-industry lobbyists say that letting the secretary mandate substitutions in chemicals and manufacturing processes, as the House measure would do, could cause shortages of some products.

“A particular chemical could be singled out because it’s viewed as bad in one application” although it’s safe when used in other ways, said Marty Durbin, vice president of federal affairs for the American Chemistry Council.

The Arlington, Virginia, trade group lobbies for 150 of the largest chemical makers with U.S. operations, including DuPont, the third-biggest U.S. chemical maker, and Dow Chemical Co., the largest.

Ibuprofen, Tamiflu

Joseph Acker, president and CEO of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates, a Washington-based trade group for small- and mid-sized firms, has said among the chemicals that could be banned were ingredients in ibuprofen and Roche Holding AG’s Tamiflu antiviral medication.

Acker’s comments were included in a letter last month to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, and Joe Barton of Texas, the panel’s senior Republican.

Urgency in passing the legislation has eased since Congress approved a measure that extends for one year the temporary security standards, which were set to expire last month.

The Senate isn’t expected to begin debating its version of the legislation until early next year, Durbin said.

The House measure would require businesses to assess their plants’ vulnerability to attack. The legislation also would require the Environmental Protection Agency to oversee security standards for community water systems and wastewater-treatment plants.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jeff Bliss in Washington jbliss@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 6, 2009 16:53 EST